Last month, during his Senate confirmation hearings, Gor was bullish about the bilateral relationship and had flagged India as a “strategic partner whose trajectory will shape the region and beyond.”
Gor, who is here from October 9-14, also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Saturday.
“Glad to receive Mr Sergio Gor, Ambassador-designate of the US to India. I’m confident that his tenure will further strengthen the India–US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” Modi said in a post on X, accompanied by an image in which Gor is seen presenting a photo of Modi with US President Donald Trump, signed by the latter.
Stating that the “US values its relationship with India”, Gor said: “I had an incredible meeting with Prime Minister Modi. President Trump considers PM Modi as a great and personal friend…
“I arrived from Washington to New Delhi early this morning and we hit the ground running…
“We just finished an incredible meeting with Prime Minister Modi where we discussed bilateral issues including defence, trade and technology. We also discussed the importance of critical minerals and the importance of that to both our nations,” he said.
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“The US values its relationship with India and under the strong leadership of President Donald J Trump and Prime Minister Modi, I am optimistic about the days ahead for both of our nations,” Gor added.
“President Trump considers Modi a great and personal friend. In fact, just before I left for New Delhi, they had an incredible phone call. That is something that will continue over the weeks and months ahead,” the Ambassador-designate said.
“Once again, it’s an honour to serve President Donald Trump’s ambassador to India and I look forward to this very important relationship. And (it will) continue to grow and deepen,” he said.
After his meeting with Gor, Jaishankar said in a post on X: “Discussed the India-US relationship and its global significance. Wish him the best for his new responsibility.”
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The “global significance” reference is linked to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, and how the bilateral relationship has grown in the last two-and-a-half decades, impacting the Indo-Pacific and the rules-based order that is being challenged by China’s assertive behaviour in the region and the world.
Indeed, Gor had touched upon these issues last month when he framed the US-India bilateral also in terms of China. “While we might have our moment of hiccups right now, we are on the track of resolving that. Our relationship with the Indian government, with the people of India extends many more decades, and it’s a much warmer relationship than they have with the Chinese,” Gor had said. Adding that given India’s concern over “Chinese expansionism,” his “top priority” was to ensure that “India is pulled into our side and away from them (China).”
Gor’s visit coincides with a renewed rancour in the US-China relationship with US President Donald Trump threatening 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports.
India hopes that Gor will see the value in the bilateral relationship which has been nurtured by both sides over the last two decades, by five US Presidents including the first Trump administration and three Indian Prime Ministers, in a bipartisan consensus.
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Sources said the government’s engagements with Gor are in sync with the task of briefing him for the job ahead – as both sides need to “repair” the cracks in the relationship and restore the “strategic trust.”
This was Jaishankar’s second meeting with Gor since the latter was nominated as the US envoy – they had met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last month.
On Gor’s meeting with Misri, the Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “They had a productive exchange on the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and its shared priorities. FS wished Amb-designate Gor all success for his assignment.”
Gor’s visit, sources said, is more than testing the waters. While such a “short trip” by an incoming Ambassador, even before his credentials have been processed by the Indian government, is unusual, it marks the new normal, in terms of out-of-the-box institutional norms in the Trump administration.
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Earlier this week, the US Senate had confirmed Gor’s appointment as the next US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs — despite the ongoing US government shutdown. Gor, 38, was among 107 nominees confirmed by the Senate in a single en bloc vote Wednesday, with 51 senators voting in favour and 47 against. This quick confirmation indicates that Washington is keen to strengthen diplomatic and political interactions with India amid ongoing tension.
The next step is for the US government to send what is called an “agreement” to the Indian government for accepting Gor as the US envoy. Only after the Indian government accepts this, does it become official. Following that, Gor can present his credentials to the President and function as the US envoy to India.
Normally, an Ambassador comes to Delhi only after the “agreement” has been approved by the Indian government.
The visit by Gor, perceived to be close to the US President and a key member of his inner circle who played a role in recruiting others into Team Trump, comes after a phone call between Modi and Trump Thursday night, when Modi said he congratulated Trump on the “success of the historic Gaza peace plan”.
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That phone call was their second conversation since September 16, when the Prime Minister received a call from the US President on the eve of his 75th birthday. Modi also said in a post on X that they reviewed the “good progress” achieved in bilateral trade negotiations. The warming of ties began on September 6, when they exchanged messages on social media platforms, and again on September 10.
The two sides have been exploring the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the ASEAN and East Asia leaders’ summit in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia from October 26-28. Both sides haven’t announced their travel plans yet.
As The Indian Express reported October 8, many here believe that an “engagement at the highest level” between Modi and Trump could break the current bilateral deadlock and inject the momentum needed to push the long-drawn India-US trade talks over the finish line.
This is one of the “fresh indications” New Delhi has received from Washington DC, a senior government official had told The Indian Express.
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Gor is also likely to meet top business leaders, apart from senior officials in the MEA and other key ministries. A meeting with the US Embassy staff and consulates is also being planned. He is accompanied by US Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael J Rigas.
